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olfactory perception

This shows a woman surrounded by pink flowers.

·June 15, 2023·4 min read

Sniffing Out the Truth: Astrocytes Serotonin Processing Plays Essential Role in Olfactory Perception

Researchers shed light on the role of astrocytes, a type of brain cell, in olfactory perception or smell detection. The research reveals that during olfactory stimulation, serotonin transporter Slc22a3 in astrocytes mediates serotonin transport into the cells, influencing gene expression.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 31, 2022·4 min read

Mapping the Path From Smell to Perception

A new brain map charts the way sensory information is routed between olfactory-processing areas of the brain.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 30, 2022·6 min read

Suffering From a Smell Disorder? Eat Chili, Menthol and Rapeseed Oil

Olfactory dysfunction can have both physical and social consequences, in addition to influencing food intake and weight. Researchers say foods that stimulate other chemical senses when consumed, such as chili or menthol, can improve life quality for those with olfactory dysfunction.

This shows a woman smelling flowers in a garden

Featured Neuroscience

·September 17, 2021·3 min read

How Scents Take On Meaning

The olfactory system works in combination with the brain's reward and aversion systems in both learning and memory formation.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·April 30, 2019·5 min read

Do you smell what I smell?

Small changes in a single olfactory receptor gene can affect how strong, or how pleasant, a person finds a particular odor.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·October 27, 2017·3 min read

What the Nose Reveals About Our Relationship With Emotions

Those with alexithymia, a psychological condition in which people have difficulty in the emotions they are experiencing, may also have an altered physiological response to olfactory stimulation, researchers report.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 21, 2016·4 min read

Sniffing Out Cultural Differences

A new study reports that people can have remarkably different reactions to the same smell, depending on their cultural background.

This image shows three computer generated faces with different colors overlayed on the noses.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 30, 2015·4 min read

Olfactory Fingerprint Points to Personal Sense of Smell

According to a new study, each of us has a unique 'olfactory fingerprint' which can also help with early diagnosis of certain neurodegenerative diseases.